Author's note:
Hello all,
I'm glad everyone is enjoying the story still. I wanted to let you all know what developments will be happening in the story soon.
1. Christian and Ana make a move to move their relationship forward
2. People will be held accountable at the sex slave market
3. Ana will get her voice back
Now when these events will happen, you'll just have to wait and see. Enjoy!
Peace, love, and hugs,
MaidSlave
APOV
The first three weeks of December have gone by. Christian had a Christmas tree placed in the apartment and we both decorated it. I started working at SIP as Jack's assistant. He gives me a list of items needing to be reviewed or edited in the morning and I complete them by the end of the day. I have my own office, which is still bare, but I'm working on sprucing it up. I have a coworker who's an assistant too and her name is Tina. Our secretary for the floor is Bruce and he's very nice. I get paid every two weeks. When I got my first paycheck I tried to pay back Christian for all he has done for me, but he refused to take it. So I have the perfect plan for it. Christian and I are still very close and I've decided to tell him how I feel about him by the beginning of January. I don't know how the outcome will be, but I'm very hopeful it will be amazing. We've had movie nights with the group. He even took me to the zoo to bottle feed baby tigers, which are my favorite animals. He's an amazing man, which I hope will know how I feel very soon.
Today Christian has an appointment with Flynn so Luke has come to pick me up, which is just how I want it to be. I'm walking out of the building when I hear someone calling for me. I turn and see Jack running for me.
"Ana…I about forgot to give you this," he pants before he hands me an envelope. "Jeez I shouldn't run!"
"Are you okay Jack?"
"Oh yeah I'm just used to chasing after Elena. I also wanted to remind you we won't be open again until Monday the 8th."
"Okay thank you Jack."
"You're welcome. Have a great holiday break." He leans forward and gives me a gentle hug. It's not the same as when Christian hugs me, but it's still a nice gesture. I turn and walk to where Luke's car is parked with him leaning against it.
"I thought we were going to have to drive him to the hospital the way he was panting," Luke whispers as he holds the door open for me. I chuckle before getting in. He runs around the car and hops in. "How was your day?"
"Great as always. How was yours?"
"Fine. Okay so I've got the list of places you wanted to buy the gifts but did you think of anywhere else?" I shake my head. "Alright then we're off!" He pulls out into traffic and we begin our Christmas shopping excursion. We're still working on me talking again but we're still not having any luck. When we stop at a traffic light, I tap him on the arm so he can look at me.
"Are you excited about going home to your parents?"
"Oh um, my parents died about six months ago. My mom died from a stroke and then Dad passed a few days later of heart failure."
"Oh Luke I'm so sorry."
"Thank you Ana. I miss them terribly, but now I have another family to love. I think that's why Jason asked me if I wanted to be your bodyguard because he somehow knew we would both be inserted into the Grey family."
"Maybe he did." I feel myself blush, thinking of Christian.
"Okay Ana I've got to ask, are you and Christian dating yet? Because Mia keeps asking me about it but I don't want to butt into your business even though you're practically my sister. But I have to say I want you both to be happy and you both complete each other so well." I look over at him stunned and flushed again.
"I want to Luke, more than you know. But he says he feels like he's not worthy of love. He also says he's fucked up by being needy and clingy, but he's the right amount of those qualities to me. He also has insecurities and believe me I do too, but I want to tell him I love him so bad."
"You'll probably get the chance soon don't worry. Maybe that's what tonight's session with Flynn is about, figuring out the best way to talk to you about moving forward. So don't loose hope. And don't worry, my lips are sealed." He does the "zipped lips" motion which gets me to smile once more.
We've gotten all the shopping done in an hour and a half and I'm very proud of Luke and I. I consulted with Mia and Kate so we wouldn't get the same things. I got Carrick a coffee mug that says, "I object…to not having coffee." For Grace I got a mixer because she said hers was breaking. Elliot is getting a new tool belt since he works in construction. Mia will receive a new pair of blush stilettos. Kate is getting a new recorded and stationary because she's a journalist. Gail will get a set of mixing bowls while Jason will have a new tie and tie tack with the Army symbol on it. They'll get their gifts before they head out to spend Christmas with relatives. For Luke I got a gym bag because he said his was getting torn. And finally for Christian I got him cuff links with his initials CTG engraved in them. I also got yarn that is dark blue that fades to gray to make him a scarf in the days I have off. As we sit in the car, I look in the envelope Jack gave me. Inside is 500 dollars in cash. I about have a heart attack. Inside is a note:
Christmas bonus I forgot to give out. Whoops! ~ Jack
I look up from the cash and nearly have another attack. Out on the sidewalk across the road from us is Roberta! I leap out of the car and run over to her side. I gently tap her. She turns, looks up into my eyes and smiles.
"Ah Ms. Ana, I miss you." I wrap my arms around her middle and squeeze her to me. I pull back and wipe my eyes. "You are beautiful. How you been?"
"Great how about you?"
"Ah no voice I see. I good, got new job at vet as secretary near home."
"Congratulations! How are your sons?"
"Very good, tall. Good in school too." I pull out the envelope and hand it to her.
"Thank you for all you have done for me. I will never be able to repay you, but maybe this will give you a bit Christmas cheer." She peeks in the envelope and tears form in her eyes.
"Thank you Ana. You good, beautiful angel. Bless you." I give her another hug before I run back to the waiting car and a pissed looking Luke.
"Ana I about had a conniption fit when you ran. I would tell Christian but since that was a woman from your past you obviously knew and trusted, I let it slide." We fist bump before we head home and wrap the presents like madmen. Once I make Christian's scarf I'll wrap it up and put it under the tree with the others. When he arrives home, he sees the tree and his eyes light up.
"It looks amazing baby," he smiles as he walks over to me. "Just like you." He kisses my cheeks before bringing me into a hug. After we have dinner and play for a while, we head to bed. I sit on the bed working away at his scarf until he comes out of the bathroom. "So I want to go over a present with you." He seems a little nervous so I take his hand and kiss it. "I was thinking of inviting the group along and we all go to New York right after Christmas. We'll fly out and be there for a few days, we'll even get to see the ball drop in Times Square. Mom and Dad have been there plenty of times so it would be Kate, Elliot, Mia, Luke, you and I. Would you like to do that?"
"Like to? I'd love to!" I leap into his arms and he spins me around the room. Now I know the perfect time to tell him.